Courage Quote by José Donoso
““Normal humanity has only the courage to react to the usual gradations that range from the beautiful to the ugly, which in the long run are nothing but nuances of the same thing. The monster, on the other hand, Don Jeronimo contended with feeling, in order to exalt them with his mystique, belongs to a different, privileged species, with its own rights and particular canons that exclude the concepts of beauty and ugliness as tenuous categories, because, in essence, monstrosity is the culmination of both qualities synthesized and exacerbated to the sublime.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Obscene Bird of Night”, José Donoso, 1970
The quote contrasts ordinary humanity, which perceives only subtle differences between beauty and ugliness, with the monster, a distinct being that transcends such categories, embodying an extreme synthesis of both.
In simple terms: Ordinary people see only shades; monsters embody extremes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that true monstrosity blends beauty and horror.
Themes
human nature
beauty
ugliness
monstrosity
duality
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- ethical debates
- personal identity crises
- cultural studies
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to be beyond beauty and ugliness?
- Can we ever fully understand the monster within?
A Different Perspective
Monstrosity may be romanticized, ignoring its destructive potential.
![“The anthropological criminologists tell us that the typical criminal is ugly: monstrum in fronte, monstrum in animo [monstrous in appearance, monstrous in spirit].” quote by Frederick Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3cf/frederick-nietzsche-70804_quote_the-anthropological-criminologists-tell_993995.jpg)
![“...[Nature] ever bearing witness against man that he has deliberately chosen ugliness instead of beauty...” quote by William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/40a/william-morris-4229_bearing-witness_nature-ever-bearing-witness-against-man_363807.jpg)
